Take a second and imagine yourself taking a nice, long walk at your favorite park on a lovely spring day in April. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, the flowers are blooming . . . everything is perfect.
And then it hits you. It’s not just any day in April. It’s April 15. It’s Tax Day. And you haven’t filed your tax return yet. Just like that, your peaceful walk in the park is cut short as you run to your car and rush home to do your taxes before the clock strikes midnight.
But before you go into full-on panic mode, remember that the IRS allows taxpayers to file for a tax extension that postpones your deadline to file by six months.
So, if you’re out of the country, missing a tax form, or dealing with incorrect information on a form you received—or if Tax Day just snuck up on you (we’ve all been there)—a tax extension can give you some much-needed breathing room. And it can help you avoid late-filing penalties and interest.
Filing a Tax Extension With Ramsey SmartTax
If you’re filing your tax return with our easy-to-use tax software Ramsey SmartTax, we make it super easy to file a tax extension so you can relax, get everything in order, and file when you’re ready.
It’s important to remember, though, that a tax extension pushes back your deadline to file but not your deadline to pay whatever taxes you owe. That’s right—the IRS still expects you to pay your tax bill by Tax Day (which usually falls on April 15). If you don’t pay your tax bill on time, you’ll face penalties and additional interest on the unpaid amount.
What if you’re owed a tax refund? Good news! You won’t be charged a failure-to-file or failure-to-pay penalty because those penalties only apply if you owe taxes. But you need to keep these three things in mind:
First, you might not know if you’ll get a tax bill or get a tax refund until you file your return. Additional sources of income or changes to your tax situation might lead to a “tax surprise” if you’re not on top of things.
Second, you might live in a state that charges a late-filing penalty even if you’re owed a refund. For example, Wisconsin charges a flat $50 late-filing fee if you miss the deadline—refund or not.1
And finally, you won’t get your refund until you file your tax return. The longer you put off filing your tax return, the longer you’ll have to wait to get back the money that’s rightfully yours.
So, even if you do expect to get a refund this year, it still might be a good idea to file a tax extension. Don’t worry—Ramsey SmartTax makes it easy!
Here’s how to file a tax extension (for free!) with Ramsey SmartTax in five simple steps.
1. Create an account or log in to Ramsey SmartTax.
If you haven’t created an account with Ramsey SmartTax, what are you waiting for? You can create an account and get your tax extension in just a few minutes.
Don’t settle for tax software with hidden fees or agendas. Use one that’s on your side—Ramsey SmartTax.
Already have an account? Welcome back! Simply log in with your username and password and get started. Hurry—there’s no time to waste!
2. Fill out your personal information.
Once you’re logged in and ready to get started, Ramsey SmartTax will ask you to fill out personal information for yourself, your spouse (if you’re filing jointly), and any qualifying dependents you’re claiming on your tax return this year.
When that’s done, you’re ready to get on with your tax extension.
3. Find the tax form for filing a tax extension (Form 4868).
Form 4868 is the tax form you’ll use to apply for an automatic extension of time to file your individual income tax return (how many tax forms does the IRS have, anyway?).2
Here’s how to find the form on Ramsey SmartTax:
Select Federal on the main menu.
Then select Miscellaneous Forms.
Finally, select Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File (Form 4868).
4. Fill out the application for a tax extension.
We’ve already said this once, but it’s worth saying it again so you don’t forget: Filing a tax extension gives you an additional six months to file your return but not extra time to pay your tax bill (if you have one).
That’s why, once you get to the Form 4868 page on Ramsey SmartTax, you’ll have an opportunity to pay your tax bill when you submit your tax extension request. Here’s the information you’ll be asked to provide on your extension request form:
Estimated tax liability: This is an estimate of the total amount of taxes you owe to the federal government. Make your estimate as accurate as you can with the information you have. If the IRS takes a look and says the estimate wasn’t reasonable, your extension may get rejected later. (But don’t stress out—we can help you figure out how much you owe in taxes for the year.)
Amount previously paid for current tax year: This is the total amount of any taxes you’ve already paid throughout the tax year, including quarterly estimated payments and tax withholding.
Amount paid with extension: This is the amount you’re going to pay to the IRS when you file your tax extension request.
Once you’ve filled out that information, you can select Go to Extension Payment near the bottom of the page and enter your payment information. You can pay your income taxes directly from your bank account with electronic withdrawal or by mailing a check to the IRS.
5. File your tax extension electronically.
After you’ve completed Form 4868, you’re ready to file it electronically with Ramsey SmartTax, just like you would with a regular tax return. And that’s it—you’re done!
Keep in mind that you need to file your tax extension by the due date of your tax return. For 2024 tax returns, the deadline is April 15, 2025, for most taxpayers.3
